Seen, Heard, Touched

Greetings on this the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist
Readings: 1 Jn 1:1-4; PS 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a and 2-8
Notes: John in his gospel account and his letters, speaks to seeing, hearing and touching Jesus. John even gives us gospel message of Holy Eucharist, the New Manna of Jesus, so we too can, at the Mass, See, Hear and touch Jesus.

Reflection

It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

Really well written summary of the life of John in through the Gospel accounts.
The full write-up is at this link.
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-john-the-evangelist

First reading
Beloved:
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life.

John giving a personal witness to the proclaimation of the Gospel.

So that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

Responsorial Psalm
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

Alleluia Verse
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.

Gospel Portion
On Christmas Day we proclaimed the Trinity by reading John’s gospel account.

God, the Father, creator of Life, loves us.
God, the Son, Savior, came to live with us.
God, the Holy Spirit, overshadows us.

We, the human family, waited for the Lord and Messiah at Christmas.
Immediately we remember another waiting.
After his death and burial, they waited.
And hoped all that God promised is true, but how?
The Resurrection.
He overshadowed death.

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we do not know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry